Hi Everyone! I’m back…well, I should say we’re back. Since going on hiatus in 2014 I have launched a brick+mortar storefront @VeganScene , and an ethical clothing line, @LegendsAndVibes. I now have a strong team of creatives working together to bring #VegansofIG back with fun, supportive, and informative posts on all things vegan.
We are so excited to continue my mission of creating an online community that brings OG vegans, newbies, and the veg curious together. With 16 years of vegan experience under my belt, I can't wait to share any advice, suggestions, and plant-based puns with you all.
You can find all of our new content right here, with expanded posts + information at VeganScene.com/Blog.
Until next time! ~ @amyrebeccawilde#VegansofIG

Hey everyone! Sorry to be MIA for so long but I wanted to give you an update on @VeganScene , the shop and event space I'm opening up on Main Street in Venice Beach.
We have signage now, the curved bar is currently being installed, and I'm shooting for a January 2015 opening. I don't think I've ever worked so hard, but it's all finally coming together and I can't wait to open and have you all over. Keep you posted! ~Amy #VegansofIG#VeganScene

Your body requires dietary fats (Lipids). Fat provides essential fatty acids that the body can’t produce on its own and must be consumed through polyunsaturated fats in our diet. Polyunsaturated fats provide two essential fatty acids:
1⃣ Linoleic Acid (LA) - Omega-6
2⃣ Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) Omega-3
________________________
The U.S Institute of Medicine recommends an daily ALA intake of 1.6 grams for men and 1.1 grams for women. Diets should aim for a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 of Omega-6 to Omega-3. The western diet, which is high in refined oils, consumes far too much Omega-6. Today, most people are averaging a ratio of 10:1 and even 20:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3.
________________________
But is eating more fish the the answer to balance? Not necessarily. Fish don't manufacture long chain Omega-3. Their diet is high in Omega-3 rich plant foods like algae. They eat them which their body converts to DHA and EPA. We can go straight to the source and avoid the host of health and environmental troubles that come from consuming fish. Fish oil is loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. They’re highly concentrated sources of contaminants and pollutants. More recently, studies have shown that eating fish and taking fish oil supplements are not as beneficial to the brain and heart functions as previously thought. In fact, fish has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Consuming fish products is not sustainable as it leads to overfishing which impacts the entire eco system.
________________________
You can get your daily serving of Omega-3 by incorporating flaxseeds, chia seeds, kiwi, walnuts, kale, and other leafy greens into your diet. Many factors can hinder the body’s ability to convert omega-3 fatty acid to DHA and EPA, which is why it’s important to avoid overly processed foods and make sure you're getting the right balance of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. Vegan diets lacking Omega-3 may want to take DHA-rich micro algae supplements. Conversion is easier when you balance with healthy sources of Omega-6 rich foods like sesame seeds, tahini, edamame, wheat germ, and tofu. #VegansofIG

5 years ago952,288

Vitamin B12 is important for the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system and for the formation of blood. It is the only vitamin synthesized exclusively by microorganisms (bacteria). Vitamin B12 is produced by soil microbes that live in symbiotic relationships with plant roots. It is a water soluble vitamin and should be consumed on a daily basis.
________________________
B12 is the most chemically complex of all vitamins. It is essential for our health. Anyone can be B12 deficient, regardless of diet. A whopping 15% of the population suffers from a B12 deficiency. A deficiency in B12 can cause a number of symptoms from dandruff to dementia. It can cause Anemia, which can be fatal if left untreated.
________________________
The B12 in animal products comes from the soil that the animal consumed, making it part of their bodies, which is then consumed by people who eat their flesh. However, pesticides prevent essential bacteria from producing B12. In fact, 90% of B12 supplements produced in the word are fed to livestock on factory farms.Vegans can find a reliable source of B12 in fortified nutritional yeast, fortified plant-based milks, and dietary supplements. Some claim that B12 is available in organic fruits and vegetables grown in rich soils. However, this is such a tiny amount of B12, you’re honestly better off just eating the dirt from the ground.
________________________
Most people only require 2.5 micrograms of B12 per day. The less frequently you consume B12, the higher the total amount needs to be to give the desired absorbed amount. Studies show there are no negative side effects of taking too much B12. HOWEVER, absorption decreases drastically when the capacity of Intrinsic Factor is exceeded at 1–2 mcg of vitamin B12.
________________________
The argument over veganism not being “natural” is particularly ironic now that animals have to take B12 supplements. Not only is it harder to absorb B12 in farmed animal flesh, but they heighten risk of developing cancer and heart disease. It's safer to skip animals products and get our B12 from Methylcobalamin supplements. Veganism really is the future and no dementia for you! #VegansofIG

5 years ago962,007

Many commonly eaten plant based foods are high in iron. In fact, some of the top iron sources are vegan. So why are vegan and vegetarian diets dismissed by disapproving omnivores as “anemic?” Not understanding the science behind nutrition is what leads to common misconceptions in plant based diets. So let’s set things straight:
________________________
Iron is an essential nutrient because it helps red blood cells deliver oxygen to the body. However, taking too much iron can result in iron overload. Excess iron can lead to a number of complications, so it's important to keep track of your intake.
________________________
There are two types of iron:
1⃣ Heme iron, which is found in animals (meat, poultry, and fish)
2⃣ Non-heme iron, which is from plants.
Heme iron is better absorbed than non-heme iron. However, it is easier to overload on heme iron than non-heme iron. Interestingly enough, vegans and vegetarians are no more likely to become anemic than an omnivore. There’s also evidence that shows that low-normal iron (which is what vegans and vegetarians store) are actually beneficial and lower rates of heart disease and cancer.
________________________
Now that we know vegan iron is non-heme iron, it’s just as (if not more) important to focus on iron absorption than to just eat a lot of iron rich foods.
Here are some tips:
1⃣ Combine Vegan (non-heme) iron foods with foods rich in Vitamin C. Even better is to eat foods that are rich in both iron and Vitamin C like leafy greens, broccoli, and tomato sauce.
2⃣ Avoid hefty meals and eat smaller amounts throughout the day to maximize absorption.
3⃣ Avoid absorption inhibitors like coffee and tea 1-2 hours before and/or after a meal.
________________________
Sadly, spinach which is very high in iron, also contains oxalates that block absorption. That is why it spinach did not make this list. Regardless, Popeye The Sailor Man is still a badass. #VegansofIG

5 years ago12602,770

One of the more disturbing cases of #Greenwashing belongs to Dawn Soap. They claim that “Dawn Saves Wildlife” by donating soap and funding to clean up animals after oil spills. Instead of truly saving animals, they’re using the photos of cute animals to sell dish soap. However, in order to ACTUALLY donate to the animals, you have to register the soap you bought on their website along with giving over your personal information. Here’s the real kicker: Dawn contains an antibacterial agent called ✨Triclosan✨ which was recently declared as “TOXIC to aquatic life and birds.” Many environmental groups have called for Triclosan to be banned. Not surprising seeing as Dawn is owned by animal testing giant, Procter and Gamble.
________________________
Sneakier cases of greenwashing can be found on totally un-natural products claiming to be "100% natural." The FDA restricts the term "natural" to products that contain no artificial or synthetic substances, such as color additives and flavors. But FDA allows the "natural" label on products containing GMOs, or genetically engineered ingredients, such as soft drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, which is made from genetically engineered corn.
________________________
General Mills (which owns Natural Valley) recently had a class action law suit brought against them for advertising their GMO-licious bars as “100% Natural” when they’re anything but. Unfortunately, that lawsuit was dismissed, but many other lawsuits going after similar deceptive advertising have succeeded. This has turned out to be quite costly for big food corporations like General Mills and Conagra, and we can thank the GMO awareness movement for that. Unfortunately, this has not stopped General Mills from greenwashing. They’ve started to shift away from generic “natural” labeling, but now their bars claim to be made with “100% Natural Whole Grain Oats.” Which just so happens to be the only ingredient not genetically modified. #VegansofIG

5 years ago7001,806

Proteins are huge molecules made up of smaller molecules called amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids available to us. Eight of these amino acids are considered essential, meaning you have to get them in your diet (or from a supplement) because your body can’t manufacture them. In general, it is better to get your nutrients from your diet, than a pill.
________________________
All plants contain amino acids. The only difference is that some have a lower percentage of amino acids in comparison to the rest of the parts of the plant.
________________________
The term “complete protein” refers to foods that have all nine essential amino acids present in the correct proportion for our bodies to build protein with. The term “incomplete protein” refers to foods which have all the essential amino acids, but are simply low in one or more of them. This is called the “limiting amino acid”. While it’s true that most whole plant foods have one or more limiting amino acids and are thus “incomplete” — this shouldn’t send you running for a steak.
________________________
Our bodies are brilliant, and every food that goes into your system must be broken apart and its nutrients absorbed. During the digestion process, amino acid chains from all sources are broken down and made ready for our bodies to use. If you’re eating a good mix of fruits, veggies, grains and legumes, then your body simply collects what it needs from the “amino soup” that your digestion system has absorbed.
________________________
Another bonus: Plant-based foods are free from cholesterol and tend to be high in fiber.
________________________ *Please note, the foods pictured above are only a sample of the variety of plant based protein sources available. #VegansofIG

5 years ago20502,974

Thank you to everyone that came out to the 11/16 #VegansofIGmeetup in Phoenix! And three cheers to my Arizona co-host @fecaled. 🙏
________________________
I did learn a very important lesson: NEVER plan an event near the campus of a notorious party school... during football season...on the same night as a home game...Holy shiitake mushrooms. We had to change locations at the very last minute, but it somehow all ended up working out!
________________________
We had a great time hanging out at the Mellow Marshmallow munching on vegan pizza and beer. All the craziness aside, Arizona vegans are awesome. I really enjoyed meeting everyone.
________________________
All of the event photos have been posted on our Facebook + Meetup.com pages. Here are all of the Instagramers that signed in:
@labellenuage@fecaled@veganmark@raqueliiita@apriloneil@thisveganlife@heyorge@ihatecassandraleann@yoginibk@24carrots@xplicit_rage@skalady21@calebstrykr@marilynmenascott@plantmurderonly@veganheathen666@krystalmath
AND... Tim, Rita, Maria, and Eddie.
________________________
With the holidays coming up, all future meetups will be in 2014. I might do an NYE event in LA, but that's still up in the air. I'll keep you posted! Happy holidays. ~Amy #VegansofIG

Part three of Vegans of Instagram series on common animal ingredients in our food and products:
________________________
1⃣ Royal Jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae and adult queens. It is collected from each individual queen cell (honeycomb) when the queen larvae are about four days old. Royal Jelly makes workers into queens. It is used as as a source of B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.Most honey comes from full-time factory bee farmers.
________________________
2⃣ Shellac (E904) Shellac is a coating or glaze derived from the hardened, resinous material secreted by the female Kerria Lacca Insect. Shellac is scraped from the bark of the trees where they live. Often they are heated until they die of heat exhaustion. 300,000 lac insects are killed for every kilogram (2.2 lbs.) Shellac may be found in a furniture polish and varnish, aluminum foil coating, paper coating, hairspray, shampoos, perfume, makeup, printing inks and paints, and much more. Shellac is often called "Confectioner’s glaze” in candy and donut glaze.
________________________
3⃣ Tallow. Rendered beef or mutton fat. Industrial use of tallow can be just about any type of animal fat (e.g. cow, pig, deer). Tallow is in a variety of products from wax paper, crayons, margarines, paints, rubber, lubricants, candles, soaps, lipsticks, shaving creams, other cosmetics. Chemicals (e.g., PCB) can be in animal tallow. Tallow is sometimes known as "Stearic Acid.” **Some Tallow is vegetable sourced.**
________________________
4⃣ Whey. The watery serum that remains after most of the protein and fat have been removed from milk during the cheese-making process. Usually in cakes, cookies, candies, breads, and supplements.
________________________ ➡ The purpose of this series was to connect the animals and the cruelty behind the unknown, sneaky animal ingredients we encounter every day. You’re more likely to encounter these ingredients in processed foods. 👉I will now begin working on a new series on vegan ingredients, because there are A LOT of delicious #AnimalFree goodies in the world. #VegansofIG

5 years ago6302,042

Part two of our series on common animal ingredients in our food and products. In their natural form, these ingredients are #NotVegan or #NotVegetarian . Vegan or Vegetarian alternatives are typically synthetic.
________________________
1⃣ Keratin. Natural Keratin is an extremely strong protein that is a major component in skin, hair, nails, feathers, hooves, horns, and teeth. Used in hair rinses, shampoos, and permanent wave solutions. Keratin is not naturally found in vegetables. Vegan keratin products might contain the amino acids necessary to produce keratin naturally.
________________________
2⃣ L-cysteine/L-cystine (E920) Animal: (Poultry. Typically duck feathers) Hog’s hair as a source is likely when the hair/feather supply is low. Used as a dough conditioner in most bread products. It is most common in pizza dough and bagels. Einstein Bros, Dunkin Donuts, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds have all confirmed the use of poultry feather-based L. Cysteine in many of their other products.
________________________
3⃣ Lanolin. (Wool Fat. Wool Wax) A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool. Used as an emollient in many skin-care products and cosmetics and in medicines. Most chewing gums list "gum base" as one of their ingredients, masking lanolin as an ingredient. The starting material used to produce this vitamin D3 is Lanolin.
________________________
4⃣ Pepsin. In cow and hogs' stomachs. A clotting agent used in some cheeses and vitamins. Pepsin is a component of rennet (see below) used to curdle milk during the manufacture of cheese.
________________________
5⃣ Rennet [Rennin] Enzyme from the stomach of slaughtered newly-born calves. Used in cheesemaking, rennet custard (junket), and in many coagulated dairy products. The coagulation of milk is achieved by the addition of rennet. Most cheeses (especially Parmesan, Grana Padano, and Gorgonzola are NOT vegetarian.
➡ Up next: Part Three (R-W) #VegansofIG

5 years ago7402,150

Here are some common animal ingredients that sneak their way into our food and products. This is part one of the series starting with letters A-I. These ingredients are almost always #NotVegan . I'll have a separate series for ingredients like "Glycerine" which can be sourced from vegan or animal ingredients.
________________________
1⃣ Albumen {Albumin} In eggs, milk, muscles, blood, and many vegetable tissues and fluids. In cosmetics, albumen is usually derived from egg whites and used as a coagulating agent. In cakes, cookies, candies, etc. Egg whites sometimes used in "clearing" wines.
________________________
2⃣ Carmine. Cochineal. Carminic Acid. Red pigment from the crushed female cochineal insect. Reportedly, 70,000 beetles must be killed to produce one pound of this red dye. Used in cosmetics, shampoos, red apple sauce, and other foods (including red lollipops and food coloring). ________________________
3⃣ Casein. Caseinate. Sodium Caseinate. Milk protein. In "nondairy" creamers, soy cheese, many cosmetics, hair preparations, beauty masks. May soy cheeses are not vegan because they contain casein. It's what gives soy cheese its (slightly) cheese-like flavor and texture.
________________________
4⃣ Gelatin. Protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones in water. From cows, pigs, and more recently, horse hooves and fish by-products. Used in shampoos, face masks, and other cosmetics. Used as a thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings (e.g., Jell-O). In candies, marshmallows, cakes, ice cream, yogurts. On photographic film and in vitamins as a coating and as capsules. Sometimes used to assist in "clearing" wines.
________________________
5⃣ Isinglass. A form of gelatin prepared from the internal membranes of fish bladders. Sometimes used in "clearing" wines and in foods. ➡ Up next: Part Two (K-R) #VegansofIG